All-in-all, last week was a good week. I made money in the stock markets (my purchase of FCL generated much of the gain), I rode both of my bikes, I cooked on the grill, and I won money in both ring games and tournaments.

As far as the stock market goes, I think I could be the next Warren Buffett if I just put more time and money into it. My strategy is simple. I look for stocks that have a low P/E, low debt-to-equity, and increasing cash flow from operations. It seems to be work.

Yesterday, I spent about an hour turning the cranks on the road bike. It felt great as always. I rode a new loop with many hills. I will have to make it a regular course.

We had Hawaiian Chicken with Persiuto wrapped scallops for dinner. The chicken was over-cooked and the glaze for them didn't thicken like the cook book said it would. I will have to work on the recipe, but the scallops made up for it, man they are good.

My poker is back on track. I am again able to concentrate on the other players at the table. That, I think, is the whole key to winning for me.

It's April 17, 2006 and I just put my taxes in the mail. My last client will be here in an hour to pick-up his return. Now I can work on getting back in shape. The last couple of weeks have been busy and I worked and slept late thereby missing my morning work-outs. It is now time to remedy that. I will do mostly weights in the AM as the weather is nice enough to do cardio outside after work, biking and running with Abby.

My poker skills may have deteriorated as well as my fitness level. I had another down week. A bright spot is my tournament play has improved, but my ring game results have been bad. Some of it is bad beats like:

AA- I re-raised villain who capped the betting pre-flop, figuring villain had big pair, maybe KC. Flop came 8d 2h 2s. BB bet out, villain raised, I re-raised, BB called, villain re-raised BB and I called. (here I was a little worried about possibly 88, but do not think it too likely) Turn 7s, BB checks, villain bet, I raise, BB call, villain raise, I reraise, BB calls, villain calls. (Here I am stumped, it is still likely that villain has big pocket cards, but what does BB have to be staying around). River 6s. BB checks, villain raises ( with BB checking, I figure he is giving up on the hand) I reraise, BB folds, villain re-raises, I re-raise ( at this point I think I may be beat, but villians actions speak to big PP, unless he had 88, but I do not think he would have capped PF with it. Anyway, villain shows As3s for the runner-runner flush. I couldn't believe it, I was ahead the whole time what was he raising with it.

In a raised preflop pot, I was dealt 44 and floped 4A9. Giving me bottom set. I be and was not raised, so I was hoping villain had weak Ace. Turn K, I bet villain raised I reraised, villain capped. I though villain had possible AK and was betting heavy now with 2 pair. River was a blank, same betting as before. villain showed KK for 3 k's beating my 3 4's.

Then there was just poor play such as when I had 88 and called an all-in bet with the board 5 7 9. Of course my pair didn't hold nor did I catch my gutshut.

Well it's back to the drawing board. I will keep studying, but my mojo seems to be gone. I wish I knew what I did in March that I am not doing now.

The greatest time of the year

I love this time of year.

Tax season is almost over. A few more returns to push out the door, and another one is behind me. It gets to be a drag in mid-March. But, now that it's April and my pockets are filled with cash, it makes it all see worth it.

I am off to fish tomorrow. Danny is a pain in the ass and if it were not for fishing, I do not know how much time we would spend together. He is a good guy though, and I do like to get away. Maybe I can get a poker game of some sort together.

The Blue Grass race occurs at Keeneland as one of the final Derby prep races on Saturday. I am going to try to get to the OTB in time to watch it on my way home from Danny's camp.

I guess the best part about this time of the year is the stuff I have to look forward to combined with the fact that I am usually flush to do it all with.

I'll let you all know how it works out.........

We played poker at Tommy's house on Friday. I won two NL tournaments, one $20 and one $5, so I netted $80. I played reasonably well, but was a little too timid in the final tournament.

One interesting event from Friday was when Rick was all-in against Chris. Rick had KK and Chris had AT. Chris flopped an Ace to take the lead in the hand. Turn was a blank. Tommy was dealing, and kept looking at the next card in the deck. He laid down a king for there river, which would give Rick the pot and keep him in the tournament. I was watching the deal, and noticed that Tommy had not burned a card and since there was not betting on the round, I informed the table that Tommy had not burned a card and the King should be the burn card. Of course the reason I said anything was that it would knock Rick out of the game and guarantee me money. Chris was the one who lost the hand, and he should have been the one to report it, but not everyone pays attention I guess. Anyway, Rick left angry and I won the tournament. Chris and I ended up heads-up again, and this time I did not offer to chop. He was not playing his best. We are 3-1, with me in the lead.

Saturday I took Abby to and Easter Egg hunt. Really not much of a hunt. More like Easter Eggs in a field. She had fun none the less.

For the week, I won 120 playing poker.

Had a Council meeting last night. We just hired a new Chief Administrator, and it turns out that I know his father-in-law. I sure hope it works out. I think he has the potential.

Played a few hands of poker last night, and I am on the positive side of variance. My bankroll is building again.

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The difference between winning and losing

Well I finished the week with a negative in the poker earnings column. In fact, I lost everything I had earned this year plus 8 dollars. Some of it was terrible play, some of it was just bad luck. I would have to think that most of it though was bad play.

The odd thing is the way it made me feel. I am truly bummed. I hate losing. This is a central theme in my life. I avoid doing certain things, like bowling, because I am not good and don't want to lose. On the flip side, when I set out to do something, I put an inordinate amount of effort into it so to give myself the best chance to "win" (or accomplish whatever my mission is).

After 2 months in 2006, I was at my earnings goal for 2006. Now at 3 months I am back to zero. I think I can get to my goal by December. I just need to keep working.

My fitness goal of 100 hours on the bike may be a different story. Year to date I have 1.5 hours, including a great 1 hour ride yesterday. Road biking rules.